22 Dec 2025
The European Commission has opened a public consultation to overhaul the rules governing the protection of Europe’s seas, following warnings that current measures are failing to halt a decline in marine biodiversity. The initiative seeks to revise the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), the EU’s primary legal tool for managing ocean health, after […]
11 Mar 2025
The European Commission has published evaluations of two directives on the protection of EU seas: the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Bathing Water Directive. The laws, in place since 2008 and 2006, respectively, have been assessed to measure their achievements so far and identify any gaps and any potential for simplification. The evaluation has found […]
30 Jun 2020
EEA ‘The current condition of Europes seas is generally poor according to the EEA report Marine Messages II. This is bad news for people as it affects our quality of life, livelihoods and economies. The condition of our seas determines their capacity to supply, amongst others, oxygen, food, a habitable climate, and certain raw materials, […]
26 Oct 2019
Defra: ‘Updating the UK marine strategy part one (2019) We have now published the summary of responses and government’s response. As a result of Good Environmental Status assessments carried out ahead of the consultation and the responses to the consultation itself, we have published an update to the Marine Strategy. Detail of feedback received Marine […]
11 May 2019
Wildlife & Countryside Link ‘Conservation and environment groups are highlighting the spectacular failure of UK Governments to deliver on their collective promises to keep our seas healthy and biologically diverse shown in the revised UK Marine Strategy (published late yesterday, 9 May). Conservation experts are calling on Governments across the UK to radically up the […]
11 May 2019
Defra: Consultation on Marine Strategy Part One: Defra, Department of Agriculture Environment and Rural Affairs Northern Ireland, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government are seeking views on the UK’s updated assessment of the progress made towards achieving GES for the UK Seas and the proposed objectives, targets and indicators that will be used for […]
07 Aug 2018
Cormier, R., Elliott, M., and Kannen, A. 2018. IEC/ISO Bow-tie analysis of marine legislation: A case study of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. ICES Cooperative Research Report No. 342. 56 pp. Foreword: ICES Working Group on Marine Planning and Coastal Zone Management (WGMPCZM) terms of reference are based on a long history of work and […]
30 Aug 2017
Click here to read the EU Environmental Implementation Review Country Report on the United Kingdom in full Click here to read the EU Environmental Implementation Review Country Report on 28 Member States in full The report on the UK is one of 28 country reports on Member States published as part of the European Commission’s Environmental Implementation Review (EIR), a […]
